Psychology: Stress, Personality, and Social Influence Key Concepts

Which of the following are the three terms used to describe the way in which hardy people differ from many other Type A people and others who suffer more ill effects due to stress?

Commitment, Control, Challenge.

What is the correct sequence of stages in the general adaptation syndrome?

Alarm, Resistance, and Exhaustion.

The ________ control one has, the ________ the degree of stress.

The less control one has, the greater the degree of stress

Primary Appraisal

the interpretation of a stimulus as stressful or not

Marginalized

Individuals who choose to neither maintain contact with their original culture, nor join the majority culture, are considered ________.

separation

Rejects new dominate society in order to maintain culture identity.

social support system

People with a good ________ are less likely to die from illness or injuries than those without it.

Hardy personality

a person who seems to thrive on stress but lacks the anger and hostility of the Type A personality

Hassle

minor annoyance of everyday life

Integration

the act of uniting or bringing together, especially people of different races

Type A personality

personality type that describes people who are competitive, driven, hostile, and ambitious

Type B personality

Personality characterized by relatively relaxed, patient, easygoing, amicable behavior.

How do psychologist define stress

the physiological and emotional response to a perceived threat, challenge, or demand

What kind of externals events can cause stress?

are events, situations, or environments outside of yourself that trigger a physical or emotional stress response. Common examples include major life changes (divorce, moving), work/school pressure (deadlines, toxic colleagues), financial difficulties, relationship conflicts, and environmental factors like noise or overcrowding

What are Psychology factors in stress

the mental, emotional, and cognitive elements that determine whether you perceive a situation as a threat. They mediate your body's "fight-or-flight" response,

How does stress affect the physical functioning of the body and its immune system

Stress triggers a "fight-or-flight" response, releasing hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. While acute stress temporarily boosts immunity, chronic stress suppresses protective white blood cells, impairs disease-fighting functions, and promotes low-grade inflammation, leaving the body highly susceptible to infections and chronic diseases

What are some ways in which people cope with stress reactions?

s by combining physical, mental, and social strategies. Common methods include exercising, practicing mindfulness, setting boundaries, and seeking support.

What are some ways to promote wellness?

Core strategies include staying physically active, fostering meaningful relationships, practicing mindfulness, limiting stress, and maintaining good sleep hygiene.

What factors influence people to confirm to the action of others.

People conform to the actions of others primarily out of a desire for accuracy, a need for social approval, and the need to manage their self-image. This behavior is strongly shaped by how individuals perceive group dynamics, social norms, and the expertise of those around them

What factors make obedience more likely?

Obedience is a form of social influence where an individual yields to direct commands from a person in a position of authority. Key factors that increase obedience include: perceived legitimate authority, physical proximity to the authority figure, the absence of defying peers, and a shift in personal responsibility.

What are the three components of an attitude, how are attitudes formed, and how can attitudes be changed?

Thoughts, Feelings, and Action three componets Affective: Your feelings or emotions regarding the subject (e.g., "I feel afraid of spiders").

Behavioral: How the attitude influences your actions or observable conduct (e.g., "I avoid spiders and scream when I see one").

Cognitive: Your thoughts, beliefs, and knowledge about the subject (e.g., "I believe spiders are dangerous and poisonous"), Attitudes are learned and develop over time through a variety of personal and social influences, Attitudes are typically stable but can be altered through learning, new information, or social pressure. Key mechanisms include:

How do people react when attitudes and behaviors are not the same?

When attitudes and behaviors clash, people typically experience cognitive dissonance, a state of psychological tension and mental discomfort. To resolve this uncomfortable feeling, individuals subconsciously adapt.

How do people try to explain the actions of others?

attributing them to either internal factors (like personality traits, beliefs, or desires) or external, situational circumstances (like stress, environment, or luck)

Why are people prejudiced, how can prejudice be stopped?

Prejudice stems from the human brain's natural tendency to categorize information efficiently, coupled with social conditioning, fear of the unfamiliar, and the desire to protect one's own group. It can be reduced through education, collaborative intergroup contact, active bystander intervention, and fostering empathy

What factors govern attraction and love, and what are some different kinds of love?

Attraction and love are governed by a complex mix of biological, psychological, and environmental factors.

Why do some people Join cults

community, Purpose, exploitation of vulnerability

What is altruism, and how is deciding to help someone related to the presence of others?

Altruism is the unselfish concern for the well-being of others, often driven by empathy. Deciding to help is heavily influenced by the presence of others through the bystander effect. When multiple people witness an emergency, it often causes a "diffusion of responsibility," making individuals less likely to intervene

direct contact

an attitude formation method where you develop a personal opinion or feeling about something through your own firsthand, real-life experience with it.

Fundamental Attribution Error

the tendency for observers, when analyzing another's behavior, to underestimate the impact of the situation and to overestimate the impact of personal disposition

Interaction with others

occurs when attitudes are shaped by observing and communicating with peers, parents, authority figures

Foot-In-Door-Technique

persuasive technique involving making a small request before making a bigger one

cognitive dissonance

Inner tension that a consumer experiences after recognizing an inconsistency between behavior and values or opinions

Altruism

unselfish concern for the welfare of others

Attribution

the process of explaining one's own behavior and the behavior of others

the robbers cave experiment

Interdependence in solving crises together reduces us-them hostility. [1]

Which part of the brain has been identified as being particularly active when people experience cognitive dissonance?

The left frontal cortex

social loafing

the tendency for people to put less effort into a simple task when working with others on that task

group polarization

tendency of group members to move to an extreme position after discussing an issue as a group

consummate love

intimacy, passion, commitment

companionate love

the deep affectionate attachment we feel for those with whom our lives are intertwined

What is personality, and how do the various perspectives in psychology view personality?

the unique set of long-standing patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior that make an individual distinct. Psychodynamic: Your unconscious mind, childhood trauma, and hidden desires shape you.

Trait: Your personality is a mix of stable, measurable characteristics (like the Big Five traits).

Behavioral / Social Cognitive: You learn your personality from your environment and how you think about it.

Humanistic: You have free will and a natural drive to grow and reach your full potential.

Biological: Your genetics, brain structure, and chemistry dictate how you behave.

How did Freud's historical view of the mind and personality form the basis for psychodynamic theory?

Sigmund Freud's foundational view of the mind and personality birthed psychodynamic theory by introducing the concept of the unconscious mind as the primary driver of human behavior. This perspective posits that adult personality is shaped by internal conflicts, unconscious motives, and early childhood experiences

How does modern psychoanalytic theory differ from that of Freud?

shifting from a rigid, expert-led approach to a highly collaborative, interactive dialogue. It relies less on biological and sexual drives, incorporating modern neuroscience and attachment theory, while focusing on the ego's current coping mechanisms rather than just analyzing childhood trauma.

What part do biology, heredity, and culture play in personality?

Personality is shaped by a complex interplay of "nature and nurture," with research estimating that 30% to 60% of personality traits are heritable, while biology and cultural environment shape how these traits are expressed and modified over time

Interviews

Flexible and tailored to the individual; allows the interviewer to observe nonverbal cues and dig deeper into specific responses.

Interviews Disadvantages

Susceptible to interviewer bias, the halo effect, and interviewee deception (e.g., hiding flaws or faking good).

Projective Tests

Bypasses conscious defenses (like the Rorschach test) to uncover hidden motives, deep-seated conflicts, and unconscious material.

Projective Tests Disadvantages

Low reliability and validity. They are highly subjective, heavily dependent on the clinician's interpretation, and time-consuming to administer.

Behavioral Assessment

Provides direct, objective, and real-world observation of behavior rather than relying on self-reporting.

Behavioral Assessment Disadvantages

Often time-consuming and expensive to set up. Results can be affected by observer bias and the observer effect (where people change their behavior because they know they are being watched).

Personality Inventories

Highly standardized, providing consistent and reliable results that can be easily compared across large groups. Many contain validity scales to detect dishonesty or socially desirable responding.

Personality Inventories Disadvantages

Because they are self-reporting, they are still vulnerable to participant bias or misperceptions of one's own behavior.

Online Personality Tests

Highly accessible, cost-effective, and efficient for screening large numbers of people remotely. Many are quick and engaging, promoting easy self-discovery.

Online Personality Tests Disadvantages

Often lack rigorous scientific validation and can screen out qualified candidates if misused in hiring scenarios. They are also highly vulnerable to 'faking' and response bias.

Different measures of personality

Serve unique purposes and involve specific trade-offs regarding reliability, validity, cost, and susceptibility to bias.

How was mental illness explained in the past?

In the past, mental illness was often explained by supernatural causes such as demonic possession, evil spirits, or punishment from the gods.

How is abnormal behavior defined today?

Abnormal behavior today is defined as behavior that is deviant, distressful, dysfunctional, and sometimes dangerous.

How do cultural differences affect the definition of abnormality?

Cultural differences influence what behaviors are considered normal or abnormal because behaviors accepted in one culture may be viewed differently in another.

How does the biological model explain psychological disorders?

The biological model explains disorders through genetics, brain structure, neurotransmitter imbalances, and physical conditions affecting the brain and body.

How does the psychological model explain psychological disorders?

The psychological model explains disorders through learning, stress, trauma, thoughts, emotions, and unconscious conflicts.

What are the major categories of psychological disorders?

Major categories include anxiety disorders, somatoform disorders, mood disorders, schizophrenia, and personality disorders.

How common are psychological disorders?

Psychological disorders are common and can affect people of all ages, genders, and cultures, though prevalence varies by disorder.

What are anxiety disorders?

Anxiety disorders are disorders involving excessive fear, worry, nervousness, or anxiety that interferes with daily life.

What are the main types of anxiety disorders?

Main types include generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What are common symptoms of anxiety disorders?

Symptoms include excessive worry, rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, panic attacks, avoidance behaviors, and difficulty concentrating.

What causes anxiety disorders?

Causes may include genetics, brain chemistry, stress, trauma, learned behaviors, and environmental factors.

What are somatoform disorders?

Somatoform disorders involve physical symptoms that cannot be fully explained by a medical condition and are linked to psychological factors.

What are the main types of somatoform disorders?

Types include somatic symptom disorder, conversion disorder, illness anxiety disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder.

What causes somatoform disorders?

Causes may include stress, anxiety, trauma, emotional conflicts, and learned responses to illness.

What are mood disorders?

Mood disorders are disorders involving extreme disturbances in mood, such as prolonged sadness or extreme mood swings.

What are the main types of mood disorders?

Main types include major depressive disorder and bipolar disorder.

What are causes of mood disorders?

Causes include genetics, neurotransmitter imbalances, stressful life events, trauma, and cognitive patterns.

What are the main symptoms of schizophrenia?

Symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, abnormal behavior, and reduced emotional expression.

What are the main types of schizophrenia symptoms?

Symptoms are categorized as positive symptoms (hallucinations, delusions), negative symptoms (lack of emotion, withdrawal), and cognitive symptoms (poor attention and memory).

What causes schizophrenia?

Causes include genetics, brain abnormalities, neurotransmitter imbalances, prenatal factors, and environmental stress.

What are personality disorders?

Personality disorders are long-lasting patterns of unhealthy thoughts, behaviors, and emotions that interfere with relationships and daily functioning.

How do personality disorders differ from one another?

Personality disorders differ based on patterns of behavior, such as odd/eccentric behavior, dramatic/emotional behavior, or anxious/fearful behavior.

generalied anxiety disorder

A disorder in which excessive anxiety and worry occur more days than not for at least six months is called __________.

affect

refers to emotion

Which of the following is the most commonly diagnosed psychological disorder in the United States?

major depressive disorder

Delusion

False beliefs held by a person who refuses to accept evidence of their falseness are known as ______.

cognitive psychologist

studies higher level brain processes like language, thinking, perception, and problem-solving

Agoraphoia

anxiety about being in places or situations from which escape would be difficult or help may not be available

arachnophobia

fear of spiders

Phobia

abnormal fear/ disorder

Panic Disorder

An anxiety disorder marked by unpredictable minutes-long episodes of intense dread in which a person experiences terror and accompanying chest pain, choking, or other frightening sensations.

obsessive-compulsive disorder

an anxiety disorder characterized by repetitive obsessions and compulsions

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